Installation guide

Network Infrastructure for EtherNet/IP™
Designing the Infrastructure
4-32
4.2 Non-Isolated EtherNet/IP Networks
A non-isolated network as shown in Figure 4-1 is integrated with the rest of the plant floor network and
can communicate upwards to the enterprise network. Since there are more integration concerns (e.g.,
working with corporate IT), initial design work will be necessarily more involved. The design steps
follow.
4.2.1 Definition of Application Requirements
During this stage, application requirements are identified and analyzed (Table 4-4). The collected data is
then used as design input. Note that an extra characterization step has been added.
Table 4-4 Definition of Application Requirements
Activity Industrial Network with Passive
Infrastructure
EtherNet/IP
Define project goals and budget
constraints.
This activity is usually performed
but has not been recognized as a
separate activity.
This activity should be performed,
if appropriate. Work with IT Dept.
Analyze technical goals and
constraints (e.g., scalability,
availability, performance,
security, manageability,
usability, and adaptability).
This activity is usually performed.
Work with controls company.
This activity should be performed.
Get outside help if necessary.
Work with IT Dept. or system
integrator.
Characterize the existing
network.
This activity is rarely performed
since these networks are normally
designed from scratch.
It is expected that these networks
will normally be designed from
scratch. Therefore, this activity
will be rarely performed.
An interface with the existing
plant/enterprise network should be
characterized instead.
Characterize network traffic.
This activity may include
characterization of traffic flow,
traffic load, traffic behavior,
and Quality of Service.
This activity is usually performed
as part of network planning
activities. Includes transaction
analysis.
Both transaction and traffic
analysis should be performed.
Attention should be paid to
multicast traffic generated by
implicit messaging on
EtherNet/IP.